Drape Expectations Read Online Free

calico.
    â€œDid you and Lady have a good time?”
    Sophia’s eyes half opened. She emitted a small meow as if telling Caprice her afternoon with Lady had been acceptable. Sophia was nothing if not laid-back. She got to her feet, stretched, and hopped down the cat condo, one shelf at a time. Lady bounded in and touched noses with her.
    Having enough of that, Sophia turned and leaped up onto the oversized dark fuchsia chair, catty-corner to the multicolored striped sofa. She sat on the arm of the chair, peering down at Lady.
    Caprice patted her hip and Lady followed her through her fifties-style dining room into her kitchen. The buttercup-colored appliances, with their vintage design, always brought a smile to her face. She so liked cooking in here for her family and friends.
    Except cooking wasn’t on her mind now as she commanded Lady to sit, gave her a special cookie treat and tons of praise. Then she went to the back door, opened it, and let Lady outside.
    After Lady scampered off the porch, Caprice took her cell phone from her slacks pocket.
    Putting trepidation and better judgment aside, she speed-dialed Grant’s number.
    He answered after the first ring, his deep baritone doing funny things to her equilibrium. “Hi, Caprice.”
    Tongue-tied for a moment, remembering the night that the two of them had delivered a litter of cocker spaniel pups, Caprice took a deep breath. Then, in her confident-woman voice, she asked, “How would you like to take Patches and Lady for a run in the dog park?”
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    With the sun shining all day and the wind dying down, Caprice was glad to be outside with Lady. She’d parked in the lot designated for the dog park and smiled as she opened the gate and closed it behind them. They trotted along the path, where dog crosswalk signs occurred at intervals and paw prints lined the cement path. That path soon turned to gravel.
    She spotted Grant instantly. He was crouched down in front of Patches, rubbing the dog’s ears. Patches, Lady’s brother, didn’t look like the other pups in the litter. He had dark brown patches on his ears, around his nose, and on his flanks. His hair was a little curlier, too, and his ears shorter. He was staring up at Grant adoringly.
    It had been a surprise when Grant had decided to adopt the last pup left in the litter. Caprice had taken that as a sign he was putting a tragic past behind him and he was ready to care again.
    Caprice unfastened Lady’s leash and let her run ahead to greet her brother. Grant stood as Lady scampered over to Patches. He was wearing a navy Windbreaker, jeans, and sneakers. The hood on his jacket flapped as the breeze tossed it. He was tall and fit, and ruggedly good-looking.
    Now he gave her one of his half smiles as she approached. And, yes, she felt her pulse speed up.
    â€œYou’re a little dressed up for this outing, aren’t you?” he asked, assessing her appearance.
    â€œI had a meeting with a client and didn’t want to take the time to change. It’s not like I don’t get cat and dog hair on everything anyway.”
    He chuckled. “Isn’t that the truth? I use packing tape to get it off. How about you?”
    â€œLint brush.”
    As they stared at each other for a moment, even the wind seemed to stop. When they weren’t discussing a case or their professions, awkwardness seemed to surround them.
    That happened now, until Grant said, “I brought Patches’ ball, and I have a Frisbee in the car. Or do you want to just let them run for a while?”
    Patches and Lady were already chasing each other around the evergreen garden, which would be bordered with colorful plants—animal safe, of course—come spring.
    â€œLet’s let them run. They’ll follow us along the paths if we start walking.”
    As Caprice brushed her hair behind her ear, her charm bracelet jingled. She’d actually forgotten she had it on.
    Grant